Photo: Zeynel Cebeci (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source 11 places to visit in the Alucra district of Giresun: Çakrak Church, Alucra Plateaus and Kelkit Vadisi Manzaraları. Plan your trip to Alucra with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Alucra is a district of Giresun Province. It lies 127 km from Giresun city centre, 147 km from Gümüşhane Province and 148 km from Erzincan Province.
Alucra’s settlement history goes back to the Hittites, and the Scythians, Cimmerians, Medes, Persians, Romans and Byzantines successively held the area. In AD 391 Alucra was invaded by the Kıpçak and Pecheneg Turks, and the region remained under Turkish rule for 60 years. After the Battle of Malazgirt (Manzikert) in 1071, Alucra and its surroundings were conquered by the Turkmen bey Kuşluhan Bey and handed over to the Danishmendid Beylik. After the Battle of Otlukbeli, the Alucra area remained entirely under Ottoman administration.
In the Alucra area, a transitional climate between the Black Sea climate and continental climate is found.
The Alucra area has a plateau character. The northern slopes of the mountains are covered with trees, while the southern slopes look barer. The region’s typical vegetation consists of forests and wide pastures. Forested areas near the centre are made up of pine trees, and at higher elevations they give way to fir trees.
In Alucra, horon dances are performed with kemençe, davul and zurna.
Alucra’s settlement history goes back to the Hittites. It became a district of Giresun Province in 1933. In the district, horon dances are performed with kemençe, davul and zurna.
Last updated:
Photo: Zeynel Cebeci (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source A former Greek Orthodox church in Çakrak village. Its stonework and architectural details make it an important witness to the region's multicultural past. It opened to visitors after restoration work.
View on mapIn Pirili village, two mounds stand side by side, about 50 metres apart. Each is roughly 40 metres high and wide.
View on mapThe highland plateaus in the upper parts of the district are an attractive destination for nature lovers, with cool summer air and green meadows. Traditional plateau festivals are held here.
View on mapThe valley of the Kelkit River, which runs south of Alucra, offers deep canyons and green vegetation, making it a good spot for landscape photography.
View on mapListed among the municipality's tourist sites; located at a bend near Arda village.
View on mapListed among the municipality's tourist sites; located in Belençayır neighbourhood of Aktepe village.
View on mapListed among the municipality's tourist sites; located in Kamışlı neighbourhood.
View on mapListed among the municipality's tourist sites; located in Karaağaç neighbourhood.
View on mapWhile you are in Alucra, you can also see the highlights of Giresun province. These places are in other districts; Alucra is about 100 km from the provincial centre.
Alucra Oğlak Kebabı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 27 October 2020 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 582). Product group: dishes and soups. Registered by: Giresun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
Small dumplings made with hand-rolled thin dough, served with yoghurt and a buttery sauce. A traditional winter dish in Alucra.
A fried batter made with eggs, flour and sugar, one of the traditional Black Sea breakfast dishes. In Alucra it is served with honey or grape molasses.
A traditional soup made with maize flour and yoghurt, a staple of winter in the mountain villages of Alucra.
Traditional festivals held on the plateaus in summer, with wrestling, horse races and folk music, are an important part of Alucra's cultural life.
Harun Karadeniz (1942–1975), a leading student figure of the 1968 generation and a writer, was born in Alucra. His works are among the important sources of the Turkish left movement.
Alucra's economy is based on farming and livestock. Beekeeping, grain production and cattle rearing are the main sources of livelihood. Efforts are under way to develop plateau tourism.
Alucra is about 100 km from Giresun city centre. It is reached by road. Ordu-Giresun Airport is about 125 km away.
The 11 highlights of Alucra: Çakrak Church, Alucra Plateaus, Kelkit Vadisi Manzaraları, İkiztepe Tümülüsü, Arda Boğazı, Mayıs Deresi (Hayran Kaplıcaları), Kamışlı Gözesi, Çayır Göze, Seyyid Mahmud Çağırgan Veli Tomb, Seyyid Çağırgan İsmail Hakkı Veli Tomb and Seyyid Çağırgan Yakup Gülami Tomb.
Alucra Oğlak Kebabı, Alucra Mantısı, Kaygana and Mısır Çorbası are the standout dishes on Alucra's tables.
Alucra is known for Alucra honey and its Plateau Festivals. Alucra honey, made from mountain flowers, is known for its dark colour and intense aroma and is one of the region's most valued natural products.
Alucra is about 100 km from Giresun city centre. It is reached by road. Ordu-Giresun Airport is about 125 km away.
Suggested visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: summer months (June–August).